Electrical apparatus



Sept- 3, H. 1.. PRESCOTT ELECTRICAL APPARATUS Fi led Feb. 18, 1941 WITNESSES:

ATI'ORNEZ Patented Sept. 8, 1942 UNITED STATE ELECTRICAL APPARATUS Herbert L. Prescott,

Westinghouse Electipany, East Pittsbur Pennsylvania Sharon, Pa., assignor to ic & Manufacturing Com- Pa., a corporation of Application February 18, 1941, Serial No. 379,470 6 Claims. (01. 171-119) My invention relates to electrical regulating systems having a step-by-step operating characteristic, and more particularly to improvements in the control of such automatic electrical regulating systems. 7

In many automatic electrical regulator systems employing step type equipment such asunder load tap changers for transformers, it is desirable in certain instances that the tap changing mechanism, when once set in operation, continue its operation continuously through a number of operating steps of the equipment until the controlled circuit characteristic being regulated has reached its desired value.

Inother instances it is desirable that the tap changing mechanism operate continuously for one step only corresponding tov one tap change, thus effecting a time delay between'successive steps in the operating mechanism so that if the correction required is such as to cause the equipment to operate through several tap changing steps, each step in the operation will be initiated, separately by the primary control element after the previous step is completed. The first mentioned operating characteristic provides a more circuit conductors-l2 and i3 for effecting enenergy is supplied to the three-phase circuit represented by secondary conductors ll, l2 and I3. A tap changing mechanism is provided for varying the voltage ratio between the primary circuit conductors I, 2, 3 and the secondary circuit conductors ll, l2, I3 which is diagrammatically'illustrated as comprising a plurality of tap changing switch contact members H connected to the tapped points in the secondary windings I, 8 and 9, and cooperating with movable switch contact members IS in each of the three phases that are similarly operated by mechanism illustrated as an arm i6 controlled by a screwthreaded shaft I! that is operated through suitable mechanical means It by a motor l9.

Control equipment for the tap changing mechanism is provided comprising a circuit controller element or primary relay 20 having ,a

pivoted arm 2| and armature controlled by an operating winding 22 connected to secondary gagement of the movable contact member 23 rapid change in the regulated quantity while the second mentioned operating characteristic of the equipment provides sufllci'ent time between each operating step of the mechanism to permit the circuit conditions resulting from a particular step to establish themselves before the next step is initiated and thus frequently avoids the operation of the mechanism through an undesired step.

It is anobject of my invention to provide means for selectively conditioning settype regulating equipment automatically controlled in accordance with an electrical characteristic of a circuit so as to effect either a continuous operation of the mechanism until the desired change in the regulated quantity has been accomplished, or to effect a step-by-step operation thereof consisting of a series ofv separate operations. with time delays between each operating step.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description with the one or the other of fixed contactmembers 24 or 25 as the voltage between conductors l2 and i3 drops below or rises above the desired value. The primary relay 20 controls the operation of the motor iii in the one or the other direction by energizing the one or the other of v of alternating current energy for operating the v of one preferred embodiment thereof, reference being had to the accompanying, drawing in which the single figure is a diagrammatic view of apparatus and circuits illustrating the said embodiment of the invention. I v

Referring to the drawing-conductors i, 2 and 3 represent a three-phase alternatingcurrent power circuit. connected to primary transformer windings I, I and 6 that are inductively related to secondary windings I, I; and 3 through which two timing relays 26 or 21 which, in turn, control secondary or motor controlling relays 28 and 23. Three cam operated switches 3|, 32 and 33 are provided and are operated in accordance with the operation of the tap changing mechanism, and a selector switch 34 is provided having two operating positions for selecting the desired operating characteristic of the regulating system.

If the switch blade 35 of switch 34 is closed to engage the contact member 36, the equipment will operate continuously through a series of tap changing steps as determined by the position of the primary relay 20 in the following manner. The conductors 33 and 33 represent a source motor l9 and the several relays controlling its operation.

If the voltage of the secondary circuit drops below the desired value the energization of the primary relay winding 22 is decreased permitting the armature to drop and the movable contact 23 tovengage the ,contact 24, thus closing a circuit extending from supply' conductor 33 through conductor ll, switch contact, members 38 and 35, conductor 42, primary relay contact members 23 and 24, conductor 43, the winding 44 of the timingrelay 21, and conductor 45 to the supply conduct-or 39. The timing relay 21 has a time-delay closing characteristic so that it will not close immediately but if the above traced circuit remains energized for a predetermined interval of time, the relay will operate to close a circuit through its contact member 46 which may be traced from supply conductor 38 through conductor 41, switch contact member 45, conductor 48, winding 49 of the secondary relay 29 and by conductor 5| to the supply conductor 39, thus causing the-sec ondary relay 29 to operate promptly to a circuit closing position to energize the motor I9 to operate in a direction for operating the tap changing mechanism to increase the voltage on the secondary conductors ii, I2, I3. This motor energizing circuit may be traced from the supply conductor 38 through conductor 52, secondary relay contact member 53, conductor 54 to the motor terminal 55 and from the motor terminal 56 to supply conductor 39.

t will be noted that in the illustrated position of the tap changing mechanism, that is, on a tap changing position, the switches 3| and 32 are in their open position and the switch 33 is in its closed position.

When the secondary relay 29 closes to operate the motor |9 to move the tap changing contact members i5 from engagement with one set of tap changing switch contact members M to an adjacent one of the series, a sealing in circuit is established between conductors 38 and 39 through conductor 4|, switch contact 33, conductors 14 and 15, contact member 16, of the secondary relay 29, the timing relay coil 44 and conductor 45. As soon as the motor I9 starts to rotate, the cams 51, 58 and 59 would likewise start to move, but there will be a short time interval after the motor and cams start to move before this motion is enough to close the switch 32 to close a scaling in circuit'through the winding 49 of the closed secondary relay. If during this interval the voltage of the power circuit I I, I2 and I3 should be restored so that the primary relay 20 opens its contacts 23, 24, the above traced "sealing in circuit through the switch contact 33 and the timing relay coil 44 will hold the timing relay 21 closed until after the switch 32 has been closed.

The switch 32 closes a circuit from supply conductor 38 through conductor 4|, switch 32, conductor 8|, the winding 49 of the secondary relay 29 and conductor 5| to the supply conductor 39, thus maintaining the secondary relay 29 in its energized or circuit closing position independently of the interruption of the circuit through the contact members 23 and 24 of the primary relay 23, or the circuit through the switch 33, until the tap changing mechanism has operated through one tap changing step corresponding to one revolution of the shaft carrying the cams 51, 58 and 59. This is for the purpose of insuring that the tap changing mechanism, once its operation has been initiated by the primary relay 20, continues through a tap changing step independently of a change in the secondary circuit conditions that may cause the contact members of the relay 20 to separate.

If the above-described "scaling in circuits were not provided and if the primary relay 20 should operate to interrupt the circuit through its contact members during the interval after the secondary relay 29 had closed but before the cam 58 had moved upwardly to close the switch 32, the tap changer would stop in a position between completion all tap cycle operation: which is undesir The sealing in circuit through switch 33, together with the second sealing in circuit through switch 32 insures that once the secondary relay 29 has been closed the tap changer will start and will continue to operate until the next tap changing position has been reached.

If, however, the voltage of the secondary circuitremains low, that is, below its desired value, the contact members 23 and 24 remain in engagement, the relays 21 and 29 will remain energized and in their circuit closing positions thus continuing the operation of the motor I9, until a sufficient change in the secondary circuit voltage has taken place to increase the energization of the primary relay winding 22 so as to separate the contact members 23 and 24. Upon such separation the timing relay 21 immediately drops to its circuit interrupting position, the energization of the winding 49 of the relay 29 being continued by the cam switch 32 until the tap changing operation last initiated is completed, under which condition the energization of the secondary relay is interrupted by the cam switch 32.

If, on the other hand, the voltage of the secondary circuit conductors I2 and I3 rises above its desired value, the increased energization of the winding 22 of the primary relay 20 will cause the relay contact members 23 and 25 to engage, thus operating the timing relay 26 and the secondary relay 28-to effect operation of the motor IS in the opposite direction to reduce the voltage applied to the secondary circuit conductors l|, I2 and I3. Engagement of the primary relay contact members 23 and 25 completes a circuit between conductors 42 and 45 through conductor 64, and the winding 65 of the timing relay 26. If this circuit is maintained for a predetermined time corresponding to the time-delay closing characteristic of the relay 26, its contact member 66 will be actuated to a circuit closing position, thus completing a circuit between conductors 41 and 5| through conductor 61 and the winding 68 of the secondary relay 29, causing the relay 28 to be moved to its circuit closing position and complete a circuit through contact member 69 and conductor 1| to the motor terminal 12, and from the terminal 55 to supply conductor 39, thus causing the motor I9 to operate the tap changing mechanism in a direction to lower the secondary circuit voltage.

As soon as the secondary relay 28 is operated to its circuit closing position, a sealing-in circuit for the timing relay 25 is completed through conductor 4|, switch contact 33, conductors 14 and 15, contact member 11 or the relay 28, the coil 65 of the timing relay 26 and conductor 45. When the motor I9 and the tap changing mechanism start to move, the cams 51, 58 and 59 would likewise be moved and prior to inter-,

ruption of the above traced scaling in circuit for the timing relay 26 through the switch 33, a sealing in circuit for the secondary relay 28 is' closed through the switch 3|. This circuit extends from conductor 38 through conductor 4|, switch 3|, conductor 13, secondary relay winding 68, and conductor 5| to conductor 39, thus insuring that once the relay 28 has been operated to its closed position the tap changing mechanism will operate to the next position.

So long as the primary relay contact members 23 and 25 are maintained in their circuit closing position the timing relay 26 and the secondary relay 28 remain energized to continue the operaspouses I 3' tion of the tap changing mechanism through a contact members in engagement to elect a suincient number of tap changing steps to refurther operation of the mechanism in the same establish the desired voltage and cause the I direction, this operation'will again start as soon primary relay contact members 22 and 2! to as the time interval necessary for the timing separate. Upon separation of the primary relay relay 26 or 21 to operate to a circuit closing-posicontact members, the timing relay :0 immetion has elapsed. The operation or the tap diately drops to its circuit interrupting position, changing mechanism will thus continue through the energization of the secondary relay is being as many tap changing steps as required to so admaintained through the cam switch ll until the just the secondary voltage as to separate the prilast' initiated tap changing step has been commary relay contact members, and thus interrupt pleted. the initiating circuit for effecting further opera- If it is desired that the regulating system tion of the equipment at the primary relay 2.. operate in a step-by-step manner, that is, so as It will be noted that the time interval between V to stop at each tap changing position, the switch the closing of he cam swi 3 and the p blade 35 of the selector switch I4 is moved to enof the cam switches ll and fl-is insuillcient to gage the switch contact member 31 so that the maintain a circuit through the sealing-in oncircuit from the supply conductor 38 to the prit cts 11 or 16 of the secondary relays tor a summary relay 20 is completed through conductor ll, cient length of time to cause the timing e -7 cam switch 33 conductor I4, switch contact or 21 to ag 01058 its cts, so that'the timmembers I] and li and conductor 42 which cir- 20 im; relay must be operated to its circuit closing cuit is closed when the tap changing mechanism position for each tap changing step through the is on any tap position. a v contact members of the primary relay 20.

If the voltage between the secondary circuit It will be apparent to those skilled in the art conductors l2 and It varies from the desired that modifications in the circuits and apparatus value, the relay contact member 23 of the primary 25 llustr ting a p e e ed embodiment of y e relay"2ll will engage the one or the other of the tion will occur to those skilled in the art, without contact members 24 and 2! to energize the cordeparting from the spirit of the invention, and I responding winding 44 or 05 of the associated do not wish to be limited otherwise than by the timing relay 21 or 26 through the above traced ,scope of the appended'claims. circuit from supply conductor 38 through the 0 I claim as my invention: cam switch 33. The operation of the timing re- 1. In combination, apparatus having an operlay 21 or 26 to its circuit closing position will ating condition to be regulated, regulating means effect operation of the secondary relay 2. or the for regulating said condition in steps, control secondary relay 2! to its circuit closing position equipment for said regulating means including a through the circuits above described, to eiIect the circuit controller responsive to the value of said operation of the motor I! in the one or the other condition for initiating the operation of said regdirection to eil'ect the desired correction in the ulating means, and rneans for selectively condisecondary circuit voltage. Immediately upon tioning the control equipment for interrupting operation of one of the secondary relays 2! or 2! g the operation of said regulating means either to its circuit closing position, and beiore the cam I upon the completion of each step of operation switches 3i and 32 have been actuated to their or the regulating means independently of the ci cuit closing po t ons to e t e S a cirposition of said circuit controller, or only upon a cuit for the winding 88 or 49, a sealing circuit completion of the number 01' steps required as is provided from conductor 38 through conductor determined by said circuit controller.

ll, cam switch 33, conductors I4 and I5, and the 2. In a step type regulator, a circuit controller sealing contact member 16 of the secondary relay 29, or the sealing contact member 11 of the secondary relay 28, to maintain the timing relay 21 or the-relay 26 in its circuit closing position independently of the primary relay 2', until the operation of the tap changing mechanism has started and the cam switches Ii and 32 have closed to maintain the secondary relay 28 or 28 in its circuit closing position throughout the next tap changing operation. Immediately after the tap changing mechanism starts to operate in the one direction or the other and the sealing-in cam switches II and 32 have been operated to their circuit closing positions, the cam switch 33 is operated to its circuit interrupting position, and, when the switch contact member 85 of the selector switch 34 is in engagement with the contact member 31, the cam switch 33 interrupts both the sealing-in circuit through the secondary relay contact member 16 or II and also the initiating circuit through conductor 42 and the primary relay 20, thus deenergizing the timing relay winding or M, and permitting the timing relay to reset to its circuit-interrupting position. In this position of the timing relay, the closed secondary relay 2! or 2! will become deenergized upon the completion of a tap changing cycle and movement oi the sealing-in cam switches 3| and 32 to their circuit interrupting position. Ii the primary relay 2. maintains its responsive to variations from normal value of a regulated condition which exceeds in magnitude a regulating step, control means controlled by said controller for initiating a correction in the regulated condition, and means for selectively conditioning the control means for eilecting either a continuous operation of said regulator untilinterrupted by operation of said controller or a step-by-step operation of said regulator for 55 introducing a time delay between successive steps independently of the operation of said controller.

3. In a step type regulating system, apparatus having a quantity to be regulated, regulating means including motor operated mechanism for regulating said quantity in steps, control means for said regulating meansincluding a primary relay responsive' to the" value of the quantity to be regulated, additional relays and control circuits controlled-by said primary relay for initiating the operation otsaidregulating means, and means for selectively conditioning the control equipment for interrupting ,the operation of said regulating means either upon the completion or each step of operation independently of the position of said primary relaiflor only upon a completion of a number of steps as determined by said circuit controller.

4'. In a step'type regulating system, apparatus having a quantity to be regulated, regulating means including motor operated mechanism for regulating said quantity in steps, control means for said regulating means including a primary relay responsive to the value of the quantity to be regulated and additional means including control circuits controlled by the primary relay for initiating the operation of said motor operated mechanism, switches controlled by operation of the motor operated mechanism for sealing in the above-named control circuits for effecting continued operation of the mechanism throughout one operating step, said primary relay also being eflective for maintaining the control circuits closed past successive operating steps when required for completion of a correction of the regulated quantity, switch means controlled by operation of the motor operated mechanism for interrupting the control circuits after each operating step of the mechanism, and means for selectively conditioning the control means for effecting either continuous operation as determined by the primary relay, or an interruption of the operation of the mechanism after each operating step.

5. In a step type regulating system, apparatus having a quantity to be regulated, regulating means including motor operated mechanism for regulating said quantity in steps, control means for said regulating means including a primary relay responsive to the value of the quantity to be regulated, a timing relay controlled thereby and a motor controlling relay controlled by said timing relay, circuit controlling means for sealing said motor controlling relay in its circuit closing position upon operation of said motor operated mechanism for eiiecting continued operation of the mechanism throughout one operating step, means including a circuit controlling means actuated by operation of said motor operated mechanism for eilecting operation of said motor controlling relay to its circuit interrupting position after each operating step of the mechanism, means controlled by said primary relay for eflecting continuous operation of said mechanism, and means for selecting the one or the other of said last two named means for eflfecting either a continuous or a step-by-step operation of the mechanism.

6. In a step type regulating system, apparatus having a quantity to be regulated, regulating means including motor operated mechanism for regulating said quantity in steps, control means for said regulating means including a primary relay responsive to the value of the quantity to be regulated, a timing relay controlled thereby and a motor controlling relay controlled by said timing relay, circuit controlling means for sealing said motor controlling relay in its circuit closing position upon operation of said motor operated mechanism for elfecting continued operation of the mechanism throughout one operating step, circuit closing means actuated by said timing relay for sealing said motor controlling relay in its circuit closing position, a holding contact actuated by said motor controlling relay for closing an energizing circuit for the timing relay in shunt to the circuit controlled by the primary relay, means having two operative positions for selectively conditioning the system for a selected one of two operating characteristics,

said selecting means being effective in one operative position for maintaining the motor control relay closed until completion of the successive steps or operation as controlled by the primary relay, and eifective in the other operative position for completing the energizing circuit for the timing relay through circuit controlling means actuated by operation of the motor operated mechanism for deenergizing the timing relay and interrupting the operation of the mechanism after each operating step independently or the position of said holding contact or said primary relay.

HERBERT L. PRESCO'I'I. 

